True stories - Brother
I was the Tom-boy among all my friends during my childhood. Having 7 brothers definitely helped. I was strong brave and did almost all activities that the boys of my age did. My friends looked up to me and I was their little hero, while I enjoyed the caring love and affection of all my brothers.
It was in one of those dares my friends threw at me that I decided to climb that walnut tree by the pond. I was 8 years of age, but jumped up to the dare, and threw myself up a difficult branch, but then got stuck. Neither could I reach up to the next branch nor could I climb down to the branch I jumped up from especially with the pond looming below. For a moment I was frightened, I didn't know what to do. The kids below got frightened too as I was at a considerable height. They began shouting in panic and then ran away fearing the wrath of the elders. My mother had appeared at the backdrop but did not come out probably because she had my younger baby sister in her arms. (She later revealed that she didn't come out as she dint see me atop the tree and she had actually thought somebody had jumped into the pond.) I was up at a considerable height, scared and confused and alone. Then I saw somebody running towards the tree. It was my little brother, all but 4 years old, small and skinny. He came below me, looked up with his wide eyes, held out his thin hands and shouted. "Jump, my sister, I will catch you. Don't u worry. I will save you." Tears sprang to my eyes. His bravado, his concern, his love. I still remember that scene vividly. The view from the top, the frightened me, the pond full of water looming below, Amma and the baby and the skinny little kid below me with wide eyes, arms stretched out, calling out to me to jump,a wide reassuring smile in his lips, full of concern and love.
Fast forward 60 years. My brother, because of his concern and love for all, because of his unmatched brilliance and bravado, grew above all of us, conquered the world. Today is his funeral. I cannot bring myself to look at him today, but I did, somehow. Seeing him brought me back to that day 60 years back. His wide and glowing eyes were shut today, his arms which are not skinny now, are now folded across his body. But that smile, I can still see that reassuring smile in his face. That smile of defeating us all, even in death. That smile, of knowing what lies beyond. That smile, telling us not to cry for him as he is now free from the world of suffering and is now resting in the hands of the Almighty.
Dear brother, you outdid all of us in all aspects of life but this is one time when I wish you would've let us go ahead into the arms of God. But when I close my eyes, I can still see you, healthy and happy, arms stretched out, eyes wide and the same reassuring smile in your lips. That view is enough for me, till the day i join you, when I'll take that jump into your arms.
Just like that day.
Lots of love,
Oppol.
